SYRACUSE, N.Y. --"American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest promised Thursday night's results show would provide a "shocking twist." He delivered. Seacrest gave the five remaining Idol contestants the power on this night in Season 13 of the singing competition. Sam Woolf, Jena Irene Asciutto, Jessica Meuse, Alex Preston and Caleb Johnson had two options.

In a secret ballot, they could: Stay with the formula of one contender leaving by the show's end. Or the group could decide to stay together for one more week. But the next week, two singers would be eliminated. The vote had to be unanimous for banding together.

In a flash, Sam Woolf's name was announced and he was singing his farewell song, fittingly "It's Time," by Imagine Dragons. Judges Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr. and Keith Urban looked surprised. Urban dropped his head on the desk at the announcement. J.Lo looked morose but started clapping to Woolf's parting performance. Even the stoic Connick seemed moved.

The show seemed fast-paced. The one drag on time and focus was the Ford car commercial unconvincingly disguised as a group outing and chat fest. Interestingly, the Idol kids expressed gratitude for the judges when they defended them and/or were moved enough by a performance to stand up during or afterward.

Kicking off the show was Urban singing the new single, "Good Thing" from his "Fuse" CD. The Idol contenders should study Urban's performance. It surged with energy, exuberance and intensity. Hope they listened and learned.